Rants

Rating:
Summary: A robust depiction of America, sliced thick with sharp wit!
Review: I don't want to get off on a rant here but most comedians these days have about as much to say as Pam Anderson addressing the Nobel committee. Their books serve a second rate toilet reading; which is appropriate since bodily waste is what spawned these little ...you might be a redneck - white people can't dance - what's wrong with America today, pieces of gutter trash in the first place. Denis Miller on the other hand has harnessed his intellectual prowess and knack for character assassination and delivers it on a plate of pop culture that will leave you saying "More Denis. I Want More, with extra cheese in the crust cha cha." It's only failing is that many of the references will only be appreciated by generations Baby Boomer, through X, and only by those that don't think the word "catharsis" is a fancy vocabulary word. All in all this book is guaranteed a lot of laughs and will certainly give you a lot to think about. Of course that's just my o! ! pinion, I could be wrong.

Rating:
Summary: Dennis Miller at his greatest
Review: The book is excellent for any fan of Dennis Miller. The book on tape is much better, considering Dennis Miller himself reads it in his usual sarcastic tone. Even if you don't agree with his opinions, Dennis is a great comedian.

Rating:
Summary: While the show maybe getting soft, the Rants are strong
Review: Having been a fan of Dennis Miller for more years than I care to share, this book brings me back the reason I first noticed him. As often cynical, acid tounge, views of the world that he somehow always seems to pepper with true concern.

While true that his show seems to be suffering somewhat this season, his rants are just as strong as ever. Considering this book is from his first 50 shows, they are even stronger.

Rating:
Summary: A humorous, but intelligent look at the state of our society
Review: I enjoyed the audio version of this book even moreso than the paperback. Certainly there is nothing like hearing Miller himself convey his emotions directly to you. Hearing him speak gives what he is saying alot more clarity than just reading the book. Listen to this whenever you are in need of an informed perspective of the modern world we live in.

Rating:
Summary: Arrogant, wishy-washy? Yes. Hilarious? Oh you betcha
Review: Now, I don't want to get off on a rant here, but often times, Dennis Miller's monologues are all about smoke and mirrors. He uses a high-falutin lexicon (tempered with a fair amount of obscenities and fellatio jokes), obscure references and comical names to disguise a very ambiguous philosophy. For the record, he is a self-avowed "conservative libertarian" and "a pragmatist." To this title, the reader of The Rants can add "curmudgeon." Indeed, Miller seems to have reached the cranky "in my day" stage of life a couple of decades early, sniping about every issue from effete liberals to infomercials (the latter being the subject of his most amusing rant) He has an annoying tendency to lapse into a cute little joke just before developing a serious thought -- i.e, while proposing a solution to the homeless problem, he takes the opportunity to razz on Kato Kaelin. But then again, he is a comedian, for whom many have few expectations.

For all his shortcomings, however, Miller has developed an inimitable rhetoric, a seamless interweaving of comedy and scathing political commentary. Not since Lenny Bruce has there been a comic who can so adroitly address social concerns while inspiring guffaws from his audience. He is the exact opposite of the dogmatic Rush Limbaugh, who skews all events to jibe with his vendetta against liberalism and adulation of conservatism. Instead, Miller tells it like it is, sans bs, with no political agenda. The only problem with this approach is that it's hard to gauge where the gifted comic really stands on any political issue (on most apolitical ones, he is -- like most of us -- just plain fed up).

Having been a fan of Miller's from the Weekend Update years, I checked the book out from the local library and dug it immensely. I progressed to the next step and bought his audio tape, which I listen to daily. (soon I hope to get my hands on the "microchip-plant-it-in-your-brain version of the Rants, which Miller pitches in the book) I n! ow force passengers in my car, at Tim Allen videotape (or gun, which is more lethal I cannot fully ascertain)-point, to join me in laughing and shrugging of shoulders at this comic genius. Grab a dictionary and an encyclopedia of obscure 20th century history and get set for some serious arse-whipping hilarity. In light of Dennis' excoriating slam-dunk of critics, I'd love to hear what he'd have to say about my little commentary.

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be dying of cancer because the FDA didn't tell us everything about Olestra.

Rating:
Summary: FUNNY, THOUGHTFUL, AND RIGHT ON TARGET
Review: Although, my husband and I have different responses to the different subjects Dennis covers in his book, we both enjoy him equally. Although, I consider alot of his humor "boy humor" as a woman, I do find him funny, and also agree with many of his opinions regarding women, children, and politicians.

Rating:
Summary: Cynical Pop Culture Sub-Referencing at it's Finest
Review: Dennis can at times be a brilliant stand-up. This book is interesting for me in that the rants are improved on the page where all self-concious gesticulations and "had to be there" asides typical of the television show's broadcast have been removed. The book, and better yet the book on tape captures the true essence of what makes Dennis, very, very good. Playful, faux intellectual wordsmithing with the occasional well-made point. Well worth the read for the fan. My rating for the book was an 8, for the book on tape version a big 10. This type of monology begs to be performed, and without the annoying "interplay" with the audience Dennis is at his best.

Rating:
Summary: This guy is a genius!
Review: This book is for anyone who just can't get enough of Dennis Miller from his amazingly funny HBO talk show. His intelligence, wit, and original humor makes him a comedian apart from all others. This book is definetely worth reading and rereading!

Rating:
Summary: Warning: This book could be hazardous to your health!
Review: Dennis Miller is an absolute gem, and _The Rants_ are some of his finest work. My husband and I do a lot of traveling, so we listen to many books on tape. This tape had us laughing so hard that we had to pull over to the side of the road in order to avoid an accident! Miller's comedy is fast-paced, witty, and definitely for the thinking person. He challenges you to keep up with him. I couldn't believe the range of trivia I had to draw on to follow his prattle: TV trivia, politics, literature, name it! _The Rants_ is a completely delightful experience.

Rating:
Summary: Beyond Humor
Review: I picked this book up expecting the same tired stand-up comedian-type rehash as others (ie: Degeneres, Seinfeld, Reiser, Allen, etc). However, Miller, as always, adds such thought to his 'rants' that there is no comparison to his peers' works. I found myself laughing aloud much of the time (and yes, I understand most of his references). I also found myself thinking about many of his issues long after I put the book down. When ideas are presented in such an entertaining way, it is hard to dismiss them so easily. It makes me wish we could clone Dennis Miller and have him speak at schools to avoid the dumbing down of the population. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.